Running a business is no joke.  This is my second year of really running a business.  The other two years I think were just practice for the real thing.  But we all start somewhere, right?  Overhead expenses are literally a third of everything I make–and it’s very hard to keep track of what’s going in and out.  I remember back when I got married and we knew the photographer we wanted to go with.  Back then, nine years ago, we paid $1600 and didn’t get ANY digital files.  We got 400 4×6’s in an album.  I remember specifically having a conversation with James that sounded something like this: wow, he must be bringing in the big bucks.  he shoots only on saturdays, and let’s say he shoots like thirty-five weddings a year. . . he’s making like over fifty thousand dollars just to work one day a week.  And nine years ago, that wasn’t a terrible income.

Seriously?  That’s how I thought. No lie.  I was under the impression that he literally did nothing except for Saturdays and that he had no costs to go with his business.  Well, once you buy the equipment, you are all set, right?  Ha. That’s a funny joke.

I’ve learned that taking pictures is about 10% of what I do.  And the cost of my camera equipment is only a fraction of what it costs to run a business.  Between insurance, website, online programs for this that and the other thing, props, batteries and a hundred other things–wow. . . it’s no wonder that most photographers who try to start a business don’t make it past year three.  Not to mention that it’s my job to keep my books, to keep my clients all happy, to keep my turnaround time quick, to be keeping with the times, blogging, marketing, branding, blah, blah, blah.

And then those taxes?  Well, they take away another third.  It’s an interesting concept to swallow. . . I literally only get to pocket a third of what I bring in.  That’s kind of sad.

But keep working hard, I will.  Because that’s my nature.